Synopsis:
King Edward I of England marches on Scotland, inspired by an Arthurian prophecy and aiming to unite the British Isles under a single crown.
One man alone can thwart Edward's plan. But on the run in Ireland, hunted by a relentless assassin, Robert Bruce seems a long way from achieving his ambition.
Born to a line of kings, Robert will not bow to a conqueror. Robert finds that to survive he must abandon everything he holds dear. He was always prepared to die on the battlefield - but who else must he sacrifice to keep his hopes alive?
Renegade is a dazzling story of conspiracy and divided loyalties, battle and betrayal, and a superb portrait of the medieval world.
Robyn Young has done it again with her sequel to INSURRECTION. With characteristic panache, Young carves a passionate route through the troubled, complex, divided and divisive times of Bruce and Wallace that makes sense of the many-folded treacheries, the back-stabbing and the coat-turning. She weaves the awe and magic of ancient relics with the bloody pragmatism of Edward's murderous army to create a glorious, bloody, passionate history that will appeal to fans of Philippa Gregory's Red Queen as much as to those who love Bernard Cornwell's Azincourt. (Manda Scott, internationally bestselling author of the Boudica series)
Robyn has a wonderful skill. She goes behind the history to the roots of legends and stories to pull up ever more convincing detail. In this book she goes to the beginning of the myths of the four nations that make up Britain. There is the Scottish Stone of Scone, the English Sword Curtana, the Crown of Arthur from Wales, and from Ireland, the Staff of Malachy. According to prophecy, when these are all gathered together, the Kingdom of Britain shall be once more at peace . . . This book is gripping, exciting, and written with a swift, tense pace that grabs the reader and doesn't let go. It's the very best in modern historical writing, and Robyn is here at the peak of her abilities. (Michael Jecks)
It is not by luck or accident that Robyn Young has become one of the most successful and respected historical fiction authors writing today . . . In her Insurrection Trilogy Young has taken on a challenge worthy of a medieval knight . . . Not only has she taken on the quest to bring such monumental figures as Robert Bruce, William Wallace, and King Edward Longshanks, back to glorious, feuding life, Young has filled them with humanity and inner conflict. These are not heroes or villains but rather men full of doubt and envy, passion and ambition; men just as capable of self-sacrifice, loyalty and love as they are of engaging in slaughter . . . In RENEGADE, Robyn Young's ability, passion and meticulous study combine to create a rich, colourful and 'living' historical tale that will wholly satisfy the reader . . . A wonderful tale, superbly told. (Giles Kristian, author of the Raven series)
A gripping new historical novel . . . an epic tale of greed, intrigue and war, set against a wild landscape (The Lady)
The best historical fiction doesn't just recreate the past, it speaks to the present. Robyn Young has the knack of finding subjects that resonate. (The Big Issue)
Robyn Young writes smart history beautifully. From the first page, I was captivated by her descriptions of scenes, people and emotions . . . The detail that Robyn Young brings to the history is remarkable. It mixes here, just a little, with a slight air of mystery - Edward's aspirations to be a new Arthur, the staff and the other royal relics, the witch banished to the outskirts of a town, the foretold destiny of Robert Bruce . . . RENEGADE is an enjoyable read with enormous depth and detail, the result of Robyn Young's intricate historical research and knowledge and her considerable talent as a storyteller. (http://forwinternights.wordpress.com)
Immaculately researched and carefully written, evoking a very particular - and largely unexplored - time and place. The fights are sensational. (Daily Telegraph)
It is so graphic you can immediately put yourself there, imagining the faces and the clash of weapons. It also elaborates on the historical context and fleshes out the characters. It draws you in and is a compelling novel you cannot put down. So much research must have gone into the book; the detail is incredible. I enjoyed it so much. (The BBC Radio 2 Simon Mayo Book Club)
The learning is never cumbersome, a deft trick when describing medieval warfare (Scotsman)
This is a big book, and the trilogy a huge project to undertake. From the evidence so far, Young's fans will not be disappointed...brings to life one of [history's] most enigmatic characters. (Daily Mail)
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